Still too much to dislike about Obamacare

Published: Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 08:00 AM.

As we count down to election day, both sides of pro and con President Obama are out. I chose to keep quiet in these last days, but one letter caught my attention: Diane Brundidge’s, supporting President Obama (“Still enough hope, change to support Obama,” Sept. 28). I won’t dispute her choice. All voters have a right to vote for the incumbent or not. But I couldn’t agree with her points about Obamacare.

Her views of Paul Ryan vowing to cut Medicare and Social Security, to make Medicare vouchers? No such proposal has been made. The main funding of Obamacare is cutting $716 billion out of the current Medicare system. Also, those closing in on retirement will have their benefits. It’s my generation (X) and younger that will face the bankruptcy of both systems.

One of the proposals of saving both is raising the minimum retirement age. My generation has been raised to 67. Many in the medical field say we Generation Xers could live to 100. With that reality, raising the minimum retirement age is the correct move.

Also, I support covering pre-existing conditions and raising a young person’s age to stay on his parents insurance. But forcing someone to buy insurance (though they would be foolish not to) is a dictatorial move. Many don’t buy insurance because they can’t afford it. Under Obamacare, most insurance rates will go up, more than they are now. Those who can’t afford it now won’t be able to afford it then. If that’s the case, tough luck, because you pay a fine for not carrying it. How can they pay the fine if they can’t pay for the insurance? They can’t pay it and go to jail.

Bill Clinton saying it can’t take four years to fix the mess of President George W. Bush’s administration? If that’s the case, how did he fix the mess of the Reagan/Bush Sr. administration in four years? That combined presidency lasted 12 years. President Obama has President Clinton’s wife as Secretary of State. Why didn’t he ask her to call Bill and ask how he did it? Why didn’t he ask him at the Democratic National Convention? He could’ve asked him when he came to the White House in December 2010 to convince Congress to extend President Bush’s tax cuts. Yet it never happened.

Obamacare was ramrodded through Congress and never debated on C-SPAN as Mr. Obama promised. Then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “We have to pass it, to know what’s in it.” The Supreme Court called it a tax, thus upholding it. The original bill was passed by the Senate. According to the Constitution (Article 1, section 7), all tax bills are to originate in the House. Even Rep. Steve Southerland acknowledges this.

Of course, Obamacare passed because of former Rep. Bart Stupak and his group of “pro-life” congressmen agreeing to pass it. These congressmen originally refused to vote for it because of the abortion mandate. President Obama wrote an executive order giving the option of not covering abortion. Yet the order was only good for a year and the president has the right to rescind it. Mr. Stupak gave in and his votes passed the bill. Weeks later, Stupak realized he made a mistake and wisely decided not to run for another term. I could continue, but feel enough’s been said.

As we count down to election day, both sides of pro and con President Obama are out. I chose to keep quiet in these last days, but one letter caught my attention: Diane Brundidge’s, supporting President Obama (“Still enough hope, change to support Obama,” Sept. 28). I won’t dispute her choice. All voters have a right to vote for the incumbent or not. But I couldn’t agree with her points about Obamacare.

Her views of Paul Ryan vowing to cut Medicare and Social Security, to make Medicare vouchers? No such proposal has been made. The main funding of Obamacare is cutting $716 billion out of the current Medicare system. Also, those closing in on retirement will have their benefits. It’s my generation (X) and younger that will face the bankruptcy of both systems.

One of the proposals of saving both is raising the minimum retirement age. My generation has been raised to 67. Many in the medical field say we Generation Xers could live to 100. With that reality, raising the minimum retirement age is the correct move.

Also, I support covering pre-existing conditions and raising a young person’s age to stay on his parents insurance. But forcing someone to buy insurance (though they would be foolish not to) is a dictatorial move. Many don’t buy insurance because they can’t afford it. Under Obamacare, most insurance rates will go up, more than they are now. Those who can’t afford it now won’t be able to afford it then. If that’s the case, tough luck, because you pay a fine for not carrying it. How can they pay the fine if they can’t pay for the insurance? They can’t pay it and go to jail.

Bill Clinton saying it can’t take four years to fix the mess of President George W. Bush’s administration? If that’s the case, how did he fix the mess of the Reagan/Bush Sr. administration in four years? That combined presidency lasted 12 years. President Obama has President Clinton’s wife as Secretary of State. Why didn’t he ask her to call Bill and ask how he did it? Why didn’t he ask him at the Democratic National Convention? He could’ve asked him when he came to the White House in December 2010 to convince Congress to extend President Bush’s tax cuts. Yet it never happened.

Obamacare was ramrodded through Congress and never debated on C-SPAN as Mr. Obama promised. Then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “We have to pass it, to know what’s in it.” The Supreme Court called it a tax, thus upholding it. The original bill was passed by the Senate. According to the Constitution (Article 1, section 7), all tax bills are to originate in the House. Even Rep. Steve Southerland acknowledges this.

Of course, Obamacare passed because of former Rep. Bart Stupak and his group of “pro-life” congressmen agreeing to pass it. These congressmen originally refused to vote for it because of the abortion mandate. President Obama wrote an executive order giving the option of not covering abortion. Yet the order was only good for a year and the president has the right to rescind it. Mr. Stupak gave in and his votes passed the bill. Weeks later, Stupak realized he made a mistake and wisely decided not to run for another term. I could continue, but feel enough’s been said.

I applaud Ms. Brundidge for sticking to her beliefs. Unfortunately, my beliefs aren’t hers. I won’t vote for President Obama, but can’t predict my vote will vote him out. All of America will know on the morning of Nov. 7. In the meantime, I wish Ms. Brundidge the best and may the best side win.